As expected, Tesco has extended the deadline for its cash offer to Dobbies Garden Centres shareholders.
The initial deadline for an offer of £15 a share expired yesterday, but the supermarket giant said that it has been extended and would remain open for acceptance until 1pm on August 8.

Tesco added that any further extensions to the offer would be announced by 8am on the day after the offer expires.

Tesco's bid to shareholders values the Edinburgh-based company at £156m. Last month it reduced the acceptance level to 50% of shares after rival for Dobbies, Sir Tom Hunter's West Coast Capital Group, gained 25.57% of the company's holding.